Why White Bedding is the Best

Did you know about 1/3 of our life is spent sleeping? Isn’t that amazing? This is why it’s so important to have a cozy bedroom that feels like it belongs at a resort. Your bedroom should be a place to retreat and rest after a long day. As far as bedding goes, I prefer a nice and warm set that still keeps me cool at the same time. I recently styled our main bedroom with Serena & Lily white bedding, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the quality and overall aesthetic.

I dream of escaping to a luxurious hotel and sinking into a bed of white linens. Oftentimes after staying in a nice hotel, I find myself searching the internet for the bedding that was used in the room. In an effort to recreate a serene space, I’m determined to find the best white bedding that invokes a sense of calm and relaxation.

Thank you to Serena & Lily for sponsoring this post! All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

White linen bedding makeover for our main bedroom using Serena & Lily.

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Selecting White Bedding for the Main Bedroom

Our previous bedding was heavy, bulky, and difficult to wash. The duvet was very hot throughout the night which is not an ideal way to sleep since sweating and sleeping are not a great combo. When I was deciding on bedding to use for this makeover, I wanted something that was temperature-controlled, neutral, and easy to clean. After lots of research, I selected the Positano Bedding Bundle with Euro shams from Serena and Lily. The look and feel of the bedding match the style throughout the rest of our home. It feels luxurious and is timeless with coastal casual vibes.

What I love about the Positano bedding bundle is that it comes with one duvet and an insert, one sheet set, two euro shams, and two euro pillow inserts with the dream bundle. This way you’re not searching for all of the different pieces of bedding that you need to create one cohesive look. It comes in sizes from twin to California King, and in 8 different colors to fit your style.

The entire bundle is made of 100% European linen. The linen is breathable, which means it’s temperature regulating. It gets softer with time and dries quickly in the laundry. The bedding is also Oeko-Tex certified, so they’re free from harmful chemicals.

Create a Layered Look for Your Bed

I really love a layered look when it comes to bedding. Adding various textures in the same white color adds so much interest and instantly creates a cozy appearance. I typically fold down our duvet and let our quilt be the focal point when I make our bed. I start with the sheets, followed by the Sutter Linen Quilt, and finish with the duvet. Layering serves a few purposes, it is for aesthetics but also for functionality. I like that I can pull the duvet up for extra warmth if needed. Living in Charleston, the quilt works best for most of the summer.

The Sutter Linen Quilt is a family favorite in our home. The kids have these quilts in their shared room and I found myself snuggling in with them at night, so I included it in our bedroom design. It has a quilted linen material on one side of the quilt and reverses to airy cotton on the other side. The quilt comes in six colors from sizes twin to California King. Many times, high-end bedding doesn’t have a twin bed option for comforters, so it’s nice that Serena and Lily includes that aspect. It also washes SO well; I was amazed at how quickly it dries in our washer and dryer. Our previous quilt took so long to dry and this bedding is usually done in one standard cycle.

How to Make a Bed Like a Professional

First, and most importantly, I recommend investing in a nice mattress cover that doesn’t make a lot of sound. There is nothing worse than rolling around in bed trying to fall asleep and hearing plastic crunching sounds underneath. We’ve had so many accidents in our bed and I’m thankful for our mattress cover that has saved us from several stains.
Next, I start with the fitted sheet. Consider sheets that fit your lifestyle. Do you prefer cool sheets? What textures do you love? I recommended visiting a store and feeling different textures and styles of sheets to narrow down your needs. Also, make sure you have a bottom sheet that fits your mattress. Is it a standard or deep pocket fit? These are important questions to ask before shopping for sheets.
Add the top sheet. This step is optional and I’m being honest here, I prefer no top sheet. I opt to go straight to a quilt or duvet to avoid the hassle. I cannot stand when a top sheet gets wrinkled up and creeps up through the night. This is purely preference though and depends on how you like to sleep. I recommend trying it a few times to determine if you like your bed with a top sheet or without.
Depending on the season, add a quilt, white duvet, or both. Again, this depends on your preferences. We do live in a warmer climate but our bedroom stays really cold during the summer. I prefer a quilt and a duvet, and some nights an additional throw if I’m really cold. My husband is a hot sleeper, so he prefers a light quilt and summer duvet so that he doesn’t get too hot.
Adding onto the the previous step, there are a few different ways that you can style your quilt and duvet. Consider pulling your quilt up and tucking it in, with a big duvet folded over at the bottom. This is the coziest look and inviting for guests as well.
Finish with pillows, or lots of pillows as Scott would say. For our king bed, I start with our sleeping pillows stacked behind three large euro styled pillows and finish with one long lumbar in front. Throughout the seasons, I’ll add a touch of color with two square pillows in front of the euro pillows as well.
Finally, add more interest by tossing a throw blanket on the bed. This step is fun, so don’t overthink it. Just toss it on and walk away. Perfect is not as inviting and this helps dress up your overall bedding look.

How to Select Sheets

There are several different types of sheets on the market and I’ll discuss three favorites next. You will find percale, sateen, and linen most frequently when searching.

Percale bedding has the right density and texture, with a fabric weight that makes it feel even breezy. It is wonderfully crisp and cool, and it’s great for those who tend to sleep warm year-round. Percale is also known as plain weave. You’ll also see this material used for men’s shirts to help keep them cool.
Sateen bedding is smooth and luxurious with a different style weave that gives it a heavier weight. It also has a sheen and is known for its luster and drape, making it a desired sheet for luxury.
Linen is my absolute favorite. Linen is light as air, luxe, and refined. Some linen has a chambray weave – a technique that crosses white and dyed yarns to create a soft and breathable texture. I love that it is nice and cool in the summer yet helps regulate temperature and keep us war in the winter. Finally, it comes with a relaxed feel and washes really well.

White Bedding Brightens Your Space

Yes, we spend a lot of our life in bed, but have you considered that your bed is typically the largest piece of furniture in your home? When you walk into a room, your eyes are trained to look at the bed first. Whatever bedding you select will set the mood for the room. If you select white bedding, it will instantly brighten the space. If you go with a dark color, it will be bolder and can cause the room to appear smaller.

White Bedding is Calming and Serene

Creating a calm and inviting space has helped to improve my sleep. An all-white bedding set reminds me of vacations and time spent in a luxurious hotel. In addition to the ease of cleaning, there is a reason that most hotel bedding is all white. White sheets look and feel clean while giving guests a sense of luxury.

How to Keep White Bedding Clean

While all bedding is made from different textiles and care might vary, white is typically easy to clean. There are several different methods for cleaning white bedding. My favorite method is to spot treat and mix in 1/2 cup of baking soda in our washer. Other suggestions include adding lemon juice, vinegar, OxiClean, and in some cases, bleach.

Design Help When Selecting New Bedding

Sometimes it can be a little intimidating to make design decisions, especially for items that will be used daily and long term. Serena & Lily offers a free service where you can discuss your vision, wants, and needs for your home. They offer advice on what product would best suit your lifestyle. I’ve used this service in the past for design projects, and it was convenient and very helpful. If you’re interested in this service, you can learn more here.

White linen euro shams and bedding from Serena & Lily.

If you’re in the market to purchase new bedding, I highly recommend browsing Serena and Lily’s options. They’re high quality and will last for years. They look and feel luxurious, and you’ll be excited to jump in bed each night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is white bedding a bad idea with children?

While some might try to avoid white bedding with a family of five, I tend to embrace the design. I love that it can be spot treated and I can physically see any spots that need to be cleaned. Darker bedding does mask stains and dirt, but I would rather know that the stains exist and keep the white bedding clean.

How do you make white bedding look good?

White bedding looks crisp and clean. One benefit to having white bedding is the ability to add to it throughout the seasons. For example, for Christmas, I like to add a faux fur throw blanket. For the summer months, I keep a lightweight linen blanket at the end. Adding texture creates more interest, for example, a puckered quilt paired with textured linen.

Does cream go with white bedding?

I am a huge fan of mixing neutrals. I believe if it’s done correctly, you can mix white with cream and beige. For example, I’ve paired a linen-colored throw at the end of our all-white bedding. It is still calming and inviting.

Does white bedding get dirty?

All bedding gets dirty and it is helpful to actually see that it’s dirty. When you have darker-colored bedding, it’s harder to see dirt and stains. I prefer to see it and this is part of the mentality behind white bedding in hotels. Guests want to walk in and see that their bedding is clean, with no visible stains.

Bedding Inspiration

There are so many different ways to style your bed. I hope you will leave this post with creative ideas, but if you need some more ideas, here are a few!